Capital of Cote d'Ivoire, it's such a nice place. Abidjan is a large, clean and fairly modern. Wealthy parts of town like Le Plateau, Cocody and les Duex Plateaux make the city look very European; the town offers a wide variety of things to do. Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) is the biggest and most important city of the country. It was the former capital of the country and is a major sea port with a population of 2,793,000 as per the estimates in 1995. It became capital of the French colony Cote d'Ivoire in 1934.
Afriqiyah Airways Abidjan Flights
Outbound flights from London to Abidjan are operated thrice a week every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the inbound flights are also operated thrice a week only i.e every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The number one place to go out at night in Abidjan is Princess Road in Yopougon. There are many bars to just relax and drink and also loads of dancings with live music or deejays. Don't forget to order some fried spicey chicken from one of the guys that prepare it for you right on the street! Top»
District guide
The easiest way to get around in Abidjan is per orange taxi. They are not too expensive; a ride from Adjame to Plateau should cost around CFA 1000. From the airport to downtown Plateau should set you back some CFA 3000. The taxi's have meters but make sure that you always agree on a price before you get in. Many taxi drivers will try to overcharge whites but if you insist on the normal rate they will usually accept the ride. The best thing is to ask locals what the going rates are. Even cheaper are the small white vans, locally known as "gbakas". They connect the different neighbourhoods and will cost no more then CFA 200-300. Lastly, Abidjan also has some public transportation in the form of large buses that drive along fixed routes. However, the number of lines is limited and you have to beware of numerous pickpockets. Top»
Historical background
Abidjan is the biggest and most important city of Cote d'Ivoire. Formerly it was the country's capital. The city is a major sea port. In 1995 the population was estimated at 2,793,000. In 1934 the city became capital of the French colony Cote d'Ivoire. Top»
Entertainment
Association football is one of the most popular sports. Abidjan is home to the ASEC Mimosas football club, one of the country's leading clubs followed by Africa Sport National. It is an important academy for nurtuting talented young players in the country and is one of the most important in west Africa in this respect. Notable players who developed at the academy include Kolo Touré, Aruna Dindane, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Yaya Touré, Emmanuel Eboué, and Gilles Yapi Yapo, all of whom are now based in top-flight European clubs. ASEC provided the backbone of the national team for many years, including key members of the side that won the 1992 African Nations Cup such as Abdoulaye Traoré and Donald-Olivier Sié. The city is also the home town of national team players including Zokora, Dindane, Eboué, Didier Drogba as well as Swiss international Johan Djourou. Abidjan is the centre of Ivorian rugby, and most of the Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team have come from here. Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, real growth came about when the paid French official Jean-Francois Turon managed to get the game adopted by Abidjan University at the turn of the 1980s, but it is Francois Dali who is seen as the father of Ivorian rugby, and his son was the national captain during the 1990s. Top»
Fun Facts
Abidjan is sometimes referred to as the "Paris of West-Africa". During the long and stable rule of the Ivory Coast's Godfather Felix Houphigny-Bouet the city of Abidjan has flourished. However, the political instability and the civil war of the past decade have taken their toll on the city. Neglect, low maintenance of buildings and public space and the mass exodus of foreigners have given the city an atmosphere of "lost glory". Nowhere is this to be seen better then in the famous Hotel Ivoire. Entering it is like taking a trip to the sixties; since its construction there have been no significant changes or modernisation to its interior and furniture. Too bad though that its massive swimming pool has weeds growing on the bottom instead of blue waters. Very nice is the public zoo. It really is a beautiful place with loads of interesting animals for just CFA 200, well worth this small sum. Also don't forget a trip to Bassam, Abidjan's no. 1 beach. Top»
Quick Facts
There are many places to eat Ivorian food, most of them on the sidewalk or on a small road side terrace. Make sure that you ask about the price before you sit down, in order to avoid lengthy discussions about the price when they try to overcharge you after the meal. The staple foods in the Ivory Coast are rice, cassava, yam and bread. Bread is usually eaten at breakfast or as a supplement to the meal. The cassava (manioc) can be eaten cooked whole, as a mash called plakali, mixed with banana (foutou) or in crums (atchiki). Fish is usually the cheapest meal. European style cuisine can be found in the wealthier neighbourhoods such as Plateau, Cocody, Deux Plateaux and Zone 4. Top»
Did You Know?
For budget travellers staying in Abidjan, a good option is Hotel Banfoura in Adjame, near the bus terminal. They serve delicious French cuisine and offer rooms with a great view of the city for about US$10/night. The employees are also very helpful and protective of foreign guests. Another good budget place is Hotel du Nord, also in Adjame. The rooms have double bed, airco and bathroom for CFA 10.000 per night. Most hotels in Yamoussoukro are also brothels but there are some decent places to stay cheaply. Top»
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